Chapter 22 Slap in the Face

  "Brother Chen Ang, why isn't Brother Huang Jian on duty here today?"

  Generally speaking, around the middle of every month is when the sect's tasks are finalized and reviewed, as well as the day of the grand sermon, making it a crucial time. Therefore, it is usually handled by the most prestigious disciple within the inner circle. Up until now, Huang Jian had always been in charge, but today someone else took over, which was why Ling Xiao curiously asked about it.

  Chen Ang's face turned solemn, and he said seriously: "A few days ago, Huang Jian Shixiong's cultivation entered the 10th layer of Qi Refining! Next, he will be closing up to use all his energy to strive for an early breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment period. So, I'm afraid he won't be coming out again in the future."

  "Foundation period?"

  Not only Ling Xiao, but also Fengyi, Maju, Malan, and even everyone in the front hall of the Purple Cloud Temple were all shocked.

  Breaking through the foundation period, he will become a senior elder of the sect. Later on, who knows, we might have to address each other as Shifu and Shushu. Everyone's heart was shocked, and Ling Xiao was no exception. This is still his first time seeing a fellow disciple who was originally considered familiar break through to the foundation period and become a senior...

  He was on good terms with Huang Jian, and had been taken care of by him several times. Therefore, he was also very happy for him at this time. At the same time, however, he couldn't help but feel a little envious and melancholic in his heart.

  Entering the foundation-building period is a major step in the path of cultivating immortality.

  Under the foundation, they are all ordinary people. Not only has their strength increased dramatically compared to the Qi Refining stage, but their lifespan will also increase to 200 years. Therefore, in general, only when one enters the Foundation Establishment stage can they truly be considered a cultivator. In the Qiyun Sect, during the Qi Refining stage, no matter how good one's innate talent is, they are just a disciple; only after reaching the Foundation Establishment stage can they become an elder of the sect. And after breaking through to the tenth layer of Qi Refining, the true energy accumulation has already begun to gradually become full, and it's time to start preparing to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage.

  The originally warm and kind Huang Jian Shixiong suddenly became somewhat distant and stern.

  Chen Ang also had a lot of emotions in his heart, he and Huang Jian entered the door together, almost watching the latter step by step to such a position, and now, finally took this step first.

  He also couldn't help but feel a little distracted, and after a slight pause, he looked at Ling Xiao with a faint smile and said: "Ling Shidi, Huang Jian Shixiong mentioned you specifically before he went into seclusion, and told you to work twice as hard on your cultivation! He believes that your future achievements will not be inferior to his!"

  Ling Xiao hastily bowed slightly in the direction of the inner gate, "Yes! Thank you, Senior Brother Huang Jian, thank you, Senior Brother Chen Ang."

  The eyes of the people around him looking at Ling Xiao suddenly became hot too.

  Huang Jian's entrusted content may not be much, but with a different identity, he can still remember Ling Xiao, which is enough to show his importance to Ling Xiao. In this way, Ling Xiao's status will probably rise directly. Perhaps, after waiting for some more days, he will have another backing in the foundation period...

  Behind them, there were still outer disciples constantly coming in, so Ling Xiao and the others naturally couldn't keep blocking the way. Therefore, after Ling Xiao slightly bowed to Chen Yang, he bid farewell.

  Chen Ang also nodded with a smile, his attitude even more amiable.

  But just then, the crowd behind suddenly parted, and several outer door disciples who were lined up in front were pushed aside. A group of people strode straight in.

  Chen Ang's eyebrows furrowed slightly, but he was a man of few words and didn't say anything.

  Ling Xiao took a closer look at the people who came in and couldn't help but frown slightly. The arrivals were none other than Qi Ming, as well as Wei Qiang and Li Zhi, who had always been close to him, all of whom were outer door disciples who entered the same year.

  Qí Míng has always been arrogant and domineering, and in the outer sect, he is also used to being overbearing. Although a while ago, because of Líng Xiāo's outstanding performance at the grand lecture, Qí Míng lost face and became much more low-key. However, after all, he is the one with the highest cultivation among Líng Xiāo's peers, and also the most promising disciple to enter the inner sect, so his prestige and status are still extremely high.

  So many outer disciples were squeezed out rudely, although they were dissatisfied in their hearts, they didn't dare to say much. Even many people came to greet Qi Ming one after another.

  With a faint smile on his lips and a slight raise of the corners of his mouth, he strode in with big steps.

  Her gaze shifted slightly, and suddenly she saw Ling Xiao standing beside her. Her face immediately fell, and without thinking, she rushed straight towards Ling Xiao.

  "Brother Ling."

  Ling Xiao didn't dare to be rude, and politely said: "Elder brother Qi."

  Qī Míng looked up and down at Líng Xiāo, with a hypocritical smile on his face, as if he was genuinely concerned: "Líng Shīdì, why are you still at the second layer of Qi cultivation? Ah, one's cultivation is the foundation. Shīdì, don't just think about taking shortcuts and trying to impress Fú Líng Lǎo Zhǎng with your cleverness, while neglecting your own practice."

  Someone behind him sneered and added: "Let me tell you, Qi Ming Shixiong, yesterday, he has already broken through to the fourth layer of Qi Refining!"

  Cultivate Qi in four layers!

  No wonder Qizheng was arrogant, his innate talent was indeed not to be underestimated. He was also the first among that batch of disciples to break through to the fourth layer of Qi Refining.

  In four years, he broke through to the fourth layer of Qi Refining. In the entire Qiyun Sect, this was considered a pretty good speed.

  Zi Ming's eyes narrowed slightly, revealing a hint of complacency, as he glanced at Ling Xiao with a sidelong glance. After all, the latter was only at the second level of Qi training. He had been waiting to see Ling Xiao's shocked and fearful expression.

  Wei Qiang and Li Zhi behind him also showed a look of pride.

  But contrary to their expectations, an eerie silence filled the scene...

  Everyone in the hall exchanged glances, and everyone understood that Qi Ming was showing off in front of Ling Xiao. However, thinking back to Huang Jian's breakthrough to the 10th layer of Qi Refining, and his favoritism towards Ling Xiao... with a powerful backing like Huang Jian, who had reached the 10th layer of Qi Refining, Qi Ming's mere 4th layer was nothing to brag about. The more he showed off in front of Ling Xiao, the more he looked like a clown.

  Everyone had a strange expression on their face, trying hard to hold back their laughter.

  Only Ling Xiao seemed to be slightly surprised, gazing at Qi Ming for a moment before nodding his head slightly, "So Qi Ming Shixiong has broken through to the fourth layer of Qi Gong, congratulations are in order!"

  Then... nothing happened.

  Fear? Flustered? Even this astonishment is still far from enough!

  From the sound of the bell, Wei Qiang, Li Zhi and others all had a feeling of punching fiercely but hitting nothing. It shouldn't be like this, in those years when Qi Ming broke through to the second layer and third layer of Qi Refining, his fellow disciples who entered the sect at the same time were all flattering and congratulating him, competing with each other to offer their good wishes. Those who had grudges against them were shocked and fearful, and even later left Qiyun Sect on their own initiative...

  After all, cultivation is the foundation. Being able to break through first means that one's strength is greater and they are more valued by their sect. Is this something that a mere Qi Refining Second Layer disciple like Ling Xiao can compare to?

  Moreover, the fourth layer of Qi cultivation means entering the middle stage of Qi cultivation, where acquired true energy is transformed into innate true energy; this pass is not easy to cross. Only when one's cultivation reaches the fourth layer of Qi cultivation can it be said that they have truly entered the gate of cultivating immortality.

  But now, how can you react so calmly?

  It wasn't just Ling Xiao, Fengyi, Maju, Malan, and even the outer sect disciples in front of the main hall of Ziyun Temple all seemed to have heard something insignificant.

  Ma Chao even burst out laughing.

  Zi Ming's eyebrows slightly furrowed, the news of Huang Jian breaking through to the 10th layer of Qi Refining had not yet spread, so he was unaware. He only felt a sense of wonder in his heart: Could it be that Ling Xiao really foolishly thought that just because he had once refined a high-quality Pei Yuan Dan, his status within the sect would truly surpass his own?

  I'm already at the fourth layer of Qi training, two realms higher than him!

  Zi Ming decided to add fuel to the fire.

  He carefully took out a jade box from his bosom, held it solemnly in his hands, and walked to the front of Chen Ang. "Brother Chen Ang, I'm not talented, but fortunately, I managed to refine a top-grade Cultivation Pill a few days ago! Please verify it for me." After a slight pause, he said with some pride: "Of course, this top-grade Cultivation Pill still needs to be pointed out by Elder Fuling. Please verify it and return it to me after that, Brother Chen Ang."

  It's not supposed to be the case. If everyone brings their own elixirs for the elder to examine, wouldn't that exhaust the elder? So, the task of verification is usually handled directly by the on-duty inner sect disciples.

  But he made an excuse to ask Fuling Elder for guidance, although he knew it was an excuse, in fact, he wanted to show off in front of Fuling Elder; but Chen Ang also couldn't say much.

  Chen Ang took it, opened the jade box, and immediately a faint fragrance wafted out; everyone looked and saw that inside the jade box was a grain of yellow bean-sized, perfectly round Xianjia Dan medicine, which was exactly the same as the top-grade Peiyuan Dan seen two months ago at the grand lecture.

  Zi Ming looked at Chen Ang with a proud expression; Wei Qiang and Li Zhi also showed a pleased expression, their waists straight.

  But Chen Yang's mouth slightly curved up, revealing a hint of a smile, as if mocking, as if amused, but just without the surprise and admiration that Qi Ming and others had imagined. He naturally understood Qi Ming's meaning, which was nothing more than trying to embarrass Ling Xiao. But thinking about it, with Huang Jian taking care of Ling Xiao, what did Qi Ming's provocations mean?

  So he closed the jade box and tossed it back to Qiming, saying lightly: "Then Brother Qi can go in and find Master Fuling."

  Zi Ming and others were stunned again.

  Two months ago, Ling Xiao refined a top-grade Peiyuan Dan, and both Huang Jian and Chen Ang of the inner sect looked at him with new eyes. How did it come to today that Qi Ming also refined a top-grade Peiyuan Dan, yet he reacted so calmly and indifferently?

  Zi Ming only then noticed that it wasn't just Chen Ang, but also Ling Xiao, Feng Yi, Ma Ru, and many other outer sect disciples around him, all with a strange expression of wanting to laugh but not daring to.

  Ran Qiming only felt that his performance today was again showing off his breakthrough to the fourth layer of Qi Refining and again showing off the high-quality Cultivation Pill, but in everyone's eyes, he just seemed like a clown. At the same time as his face flushed with embarrassment, he couldn't help but feel puzzled - how could breaking through to the fourth layer of Qi Refining and being able to refine high-quality Cultivation Pills have become so worthless?

  He couldn't bear to stay here any longer, grabbed the jade box and hastily threw out a sentence, "I'm going to find Elder Fuling." Then he rushed straight to the back hall.

  "Hiss——"

  "Haha——"

  Feng Yi, Ma Ru and others burst out laughing. Even the other outer disciples in the hall couldn't help but secretly laugh at him. Qi Ming had offended too many people before, now that he was being humiliated, who wouldn't feel delighted?

  Everyone understands that Zhi Ming's provocative words today are aimed at Ling Xiao.

  If it were earlier, there might still be some effect. But now, with Huang Jian as a backing for Ling Xiao, Qi Ming's actions today seem ridiculous and ignorant.

  Ling Xiao and Huang Jian had a deep relationship, and were also favored by Fu Ling Elder. Perhaps one day, with just one word from either of them, Ling Xiao would be taken in as an inner disciple.

  Even Ling Xiao himself no longer takes Qi Ming seriously. Although Qi Ming has broken through to the fourth layer of Qi Refining, Ling Xiao also feels that he is about to break through and is not inferior to Qi Ming. With sufficient elixirs to support his cultivation speed, he might even be faster than Qi Ming and may catch up or surpass him.

  As for alchemy, with that strange flame in his body, he wouldn't lose to him... Moreover, within the sect, there are strict rules and regulations, so he couldn't possibly do whatever he wants. There's no need to be afraid of him at all.

  For myself, the most important thing is still to seize the time to cultivate and strive for an early breakthrough.

  After all, cultivation is the foundation.